Cruising for the whole family

Take the stress out of travelling with the little ones. Board a ship.

Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2018

These days, cruise ships are a cross between floating villages and seaborne resorts. They have shopping arcades, a variety of bars and restaurants, cinemas and live theatrical shows, and everything you’d expect to find in a small town that’s solely dedicated to having a good time. Words: John Pedler

Carnival Spirit

Twenty-four-hour pizza and ice-cream – job done! But there’s more than just all-day snacks to keep the kids busy on a Carnival cruise. The Spirit has the largest shipboard waterpark in Australia, with something for all ages.

Little tackers can scoot down the smaller slides, while bigger kids can experience the near-vertical freefall of the Green Thunder waterslide. There’s also mini-golf, a basketball court, and even a Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Every evening by the pool, the outdoor cinema shows the latest flicks. Family movie nights can be enjoyed from the comfort of lounge chairs or, in a serious nod to the cruising lifestyle, you can watch from the pool.

There’s a range of supervised kids’ activities including Club 02, a teen hangout for 15 to 17-year-olds. Organisers can even plan teen-only shore excursions, for when everyone in the family needs some time with their own age group.

Where you can go: Pacific Islands, Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand

Ovation of the Seas
The Ovation is like a floating funfair.

Pacific Explorer, P&O

Just riding the glass lift up the massive, four-deck-high atrium is a bit of a thrill, but it’s the Explorer’s outdoor activities that should really get the heart pounding.

As well as enjoying the simple pleasures of the waterpark, guests can also soar across the deck on a zip line, take on the pirate-inspired walk-the-plank experience over the ship’s rail, or scoot around on the Segway course.

There’s also laser tag and a bungee trampoline, and passengers are welcome to get a team together for a game of barefoot lawn bowls.

Chock-a-block with toys, Turtle Cove is the supervised playspace for toddlers. There are also separate areas and activities for children aged 11 to 14 and 15 to 17.

And while the little ones are busy getting crayon all over their faces, mum and dad can retreat to the ship’s two adult-only areas, both with sunlounges and pools.

Where you can go: New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Moreton Island, New Zealand

Norwegian Jewel
The Norwegian Jewel is one of the funkiest looking ships on the ocean.

Norwegian Jewel

With their brightly coloured livery, the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet is among the funkiest looking ships on the open ocean.

Inside, there’s plenty to keep everybody entertained between ports. There are supervised kids’ programs catering for all ages, from toddlers through to teens.

Children aged up to 12 can head for Splash Academy, where activities are organised for three separate age groups. And if the kids are happy, that’s a win for everyone.

The Entourage program for 13 to 17-year-olds includes video games, movies, dance parties, and hanging out with teenagers who are similarly averse to spending all day with the folks.

The Late-Night Fun Zone is a child-minding play space that’s open from 10.30pm to 1.30am, so the really big kids, who paid for the trip, can have a night out.

Out on the sports deck there’s a volleyball/tennis/basketball court, a chess board, and that classic shipboard activity from the dawn of time – shuffleboard.

Where you can go: Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan

Cruising with children

Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

If this ship spent all its time dockside it would still have kids crawling all over it. The Ovation is like a floating funfair, jam-packed with an incredible range of activities.

Outside there’s a rock climbing wall, a waterpark, a poolside cinema, and a windowed capsule known as North Star, which rises high into the air to allow a bird’s-eye view of the ship and the surrounding sea. There’s also a skydiving simulator, powered by a giant fan, and an on-board surf machine. Inside there’s a complete amusement centre.

As well as a games arcade, there’s roller skating, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Plus the sports court converts to a bumper car arena and circus school, teaching kids all the skills they’ll need to become trapeze acrobats. As well as all this, the Ovation has kids’ clubs for ages up to 17.

Where you can go: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tasmania

Sun Princess
Sun Princess is just as much for the big kids than the little ones.

Sun Princess

The Sun Princess represents a more traditional style of cruising. Like most ships, there are pools, hot tubs, plenty of bars and eating options, plus outdoor activities like volleyball, basketball and table tennis. But you won’t find the more elaborate amusements like waterparks, rock climbing and skating rinks.

There’s still a strong focus on family entertainment though. There are hosted game nights, trivia quizzes and sports challenges. Weather permitting, the family can join an informative stargazing session, away from the glare of city lights.

The outdoor cinema screens movies and other features all day, including live sports. During the evening sessions, there’s even complimentary popcorn. There are also three age-specific areas with activities for youngsters up to 17 years old, and organised kids-only dinners.

Where you can go: Fiji, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Pacific, New Zealand

Bon voyage

Get ready to leave the mainland behind and explore a range of cruises.

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